Exclusive: British exhibition chain Picturehouse Cinemas has revamped its senior leadership team with the appointment of business development, services and marketing executives.
John Barrenechea has been appointed director of business development with a focus on customer experience at Picturehouse Cinemas.
Mr. Barrenetxea worked at Mubi from 2018 to 2025, after which he served as Vice President of Global Distribution. Prior to that, he spent 14 years at Picturehouse in various roles including marketing and project director. He will continue to lead Picturehouse Create, an event to be held at Picturehouse Central in April.
Sam Clements has been promoted to director of marketing, succeeding Sara Frain, who was promoted to managing director of Picturehouse Entertainment in November. Clements has been with Picturehouse since 2011, first as marketing manager and then head of marketing, and will continue to run Picturehouse Recommends magazine and the in-house podcast Love of Cinema.
Alastair Oatey will return to Picturehouse as Business Services Director, with authority over the entire exhibition business, including membership. He previously worked for the company as Operations Director for 18 years, from 1998 to 2015, and then as Business Director at Wesley House College, Cambridge.
All new appointments will report directly to Picturehouse Cinemas chairman and co-founder Lynne Goleby, who will rejoin the organization in 2024, and will work closely with creative director Claire Binns.
“We achieved success in 2025, and the evolution of our team will continue to fly in 2026,” Goalby said. “The restructuring of Picturehouse Entertainment has put the company on a whole new trajectory for growth. The addition of John and Alastair, and the addition of Sam Clements now at the helm as Picturehouse Cinemas’ marketing director, means we’re confident we’re cooking on gas.”
Mr. Barrenetxea said he was “excited to return to Picturehouse in a new role,” and Mr. Clements said, “I look forward to sharing my passion for the big screen experience as we champion the power of neighborhood cinema and reach audiences across the country.”
Picturehouse Cinemas operates 25 venues across the UK, including 11 in London.
(Tag Translation) Exhibition
